Experimental Study on Mechanical Properties of Waste Steel Fiber Polypropylene (EPP) Concrete
Polypropylene (EPP) concrete offers advantages such as low density and good thermal insulation properties, but its relatively low strength limits its engineering applications. Waste steel fibers (WSFs) obtained during the sorting and processing of machining residues can be incorporated into EPP conc...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Buildings |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/15/2680 |
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| author | Yanyan Zhao Xiaopeng Ren Yongtao Gao Youzhi Li Mingshuai Li |
| author_facet | Yanyan Zhao Xiaopeng Ren Yongtao Gao Youzhi Li Mingshuai Li |
| author_sort | Yanyan Zhao |
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| description | Polypropylene (EPP) concrete offers advantages such as low density and good thermal insulation properties, but its relatively low strength limits its engineering applications. Waste steel fibers (WSFs) obtained during the sorting and processing of machining residues can be incorporated into EPP concrete (EC) to enhance its strength and toughness. Using the volume fractions of EPP and WSF as variables, specimens of EPP concrete (EC) and waste steel fiber-reinforced EPP concrete (WSFREC) were prepared and subjected to cube compressive strength tests, splitting tensile strength tests, and four-point flexural strength tests. The results indicate that EPP particles significantly improve the toughness of concrete but inevitably lead to a considerable reduction in strength. The incorporation of WSF substantially enhanced the splitting tensile strength and flexural strength of EC, with increases of at least 37.7% and 34.5%, respectively, while the improvement in cube compressive strength was relatively lower at only 23.6%. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations of the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) and WSF surface morphology in WSFREC revealed that the addition of EPP particles introduces more defects in the concrete matrix. However, the inclusion of WSF promotes the formation of abundant hydration products on the fiber surface, mitigating matrix defects, improving the bond between WSF and the concrete matrix, effectively inhibiting crack propagation, and enhancing both the strength and toughness of the concrete. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3a8e1162c4b44d7e91c773218f4b4910 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj-art-3a8e1162c4b44d7e91c773218f4b49102025-08-20T03:36:03ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-07-011515268010.3390/buildings15152680Experimental Study on Mechanical Properties of Waste Steel Fiber Polypropylene (EPP) ConcreteYanyan Zhao0Xiaopeng Ren1Yongtao Gao2Youzhi Li3Mingshuai Li4Department of Engineering Management, Sichuan College of Architectural Technology, Deyang 618000, ChinaDepartment of Engineering Management, Sichuan College of Architectural Technology, Deyang 618000, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu 610059, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu 610059, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu 610059, ChinaPolypropylene (EPP) concrete offers advantages such as low density and good thermal insulation properties, but its relatively low strength limits its engineering applications. Waste steel fibers (WSFs) obtained during the sorting and processing of machining residues can be incorporated into EPP concrete (EC) to enhance its strength and toughness. Using the volume fractions of EPP and WSF as variables, specimens of EPP concrete (EC) and waste steel fiber-reinforced EPP concrete (WSFREC) were prepared and subjected to cube compressive strength tests, splitting tensile strength tests, and four-point flexural strength tests. The results indicate that EPP particles significantly improve the toughness of concrete but inevitably lead to a considerable reduction in strength. The incorporation of WSF substantially enhanced the splitting tensile strength and flexural strength of EC, with increases of at least 37.7% and 34.5%, respectively, while the improvement in cube compressive strength was relatively lower at only 23.6%. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations of the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) and WSF surface morphology in WSFREC revealed that the addition of EPP particles introduces more defects in the concrete matrix. However, the inclusion of WSF promotes the formation of abundant hydration products on the fiber surface, mitigating matrix defects, improving the bond between WSF and the concrete matrix, effectively inhibiting crack propagation, and enhancing both the strength and toughness of the concrete.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/15/2680EPP concretewaste steel fibermechanical propertiesmicrostructurereinforcement mechanism |
| spellingShingle | Yanyan Zhao Xiaopeng Ren Yongtao Gao Youzhi Li Mingshuai Li Experimental Study on Mechanical Properties of Waste Steel Fiber Polypropylene (EPP) Concrete Buildings EPP concrete waste steel fiber mechanical properties microstructure reinforcement mechanism |
| title | Experimental Study on Mechanical Properties of Waste Steel Fiber Polypropylene (EPP) Concrete |
| title_full | Experimental Study on Mechanical Properties of Waste Steel Fiber Polypropylene (EPP) Concrete |
| title_fullStr | Experimental Study on Mechanical Properties of Waste Steel Fiber Polypropylene (EPP) Concrete |
| title_full_unstemmed | Experimental Study on Mechanical Properties of Waste Steel Fiber Polypropylene (EPP) Concrete |
| title_short | Experimental Study on Mechanical Properties of Waste Steel Fiber Polypropylene (EPP) Concrete |
| title_sort | experimental study on mechanical properties of waste steel fiber polypropylene epp concrete |
| topic | EPP concrete waste steel fiber mechanical properties microstructure reinforcement mechanism |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/15/2680 |
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